Castle Rock Pinot Noir 2023
- 93
- $44
- Drink by: 2024-2030
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Castle Rock and Rob Diletti may have established a stellar record for their wonderful Rieslings but it would be a mistake to ignore their Pinots. They rank at the very pinnacle of West Aussie Pinot Noir. The vines providing the fruit for this vintage are between eight and thirty seven years of age. A seven day cold soak, barrel fermentation and maturation for ten months in a combination of new and older French oak barriques and puncheons, a quarter of the oak new and 15% of the grapes whole bunches. Cherry red in colour, this exhibits an attractive, youthful and quite sappy nose. Notes of undergrowth, warm earth, fresh beetroot, red fruits and bay leaves. A fine line of vibrant acidity, there is grip here, and serious length. The wine retains intensity for its entire length, finishing with sleek tannins. Still very young, it will provide pleasure for the next five to six years.
Ken was born and bred in Brisbane, Queensland. He had a non-trendy, perfectly happy childhood, in a family convinced alcohol meant instant condemnation to Hades. But a break fishing on the Great Barrier Reef, and some good wine, started a serious obsession that eventually took over. It did not stop Ken being chastised later for drinking Pol champagne, disgusted he’d drink anything made by a Cambodian dictator. Now, Ken mostly writes on wine, champagne and spirits for various newspapers, magazines and books, but is perhaps best known for his work in The Courier Mail. He also has a little sideline writing on cigars, fishing, travel and food. When not writing, fly-fishing for trout in NZ or bonefish on the flats of Cuba, travelling or smoking cigars, he is no doubt following a variety of sporting teams – the occasionally glorious Queensland Reds rugby, the dysfunctional Washington Redskins, the dodgy Arsenal and especially revels in the world restored to its proper axis with the return of the Ashes to their rightful home.
